FIFA 13 Takes Beauty and Mixes it with Brains - The UpStream

FIFA 13 Takes Beauty and Mixes it with Brains

With the things we saw at the E3 2011 EA press event with FIFA 12 I didn't think the beautiful game could get any more impressive. Call me a suspension bridge, because I couldn't be more wrong. EA SPORTS has figured out how to make this game even better than before and with Lionel Messi on the cover this year, arguably the world's best football (soccer) player, it's bound to attract even more fans to the stores to pick up a copy.

David Rutter, Executive Producer for the game, said,

We are perfecting the best sports game in the world with innovations that capture all the drama and unpredictability of real-world football. These are game-changing innovations that will revolutionize our artificial intelligence, dribbling, ball control and collisions to create a true battle for possession across the entire pitch, and deliver freedom and creativity in attack.

Full details and video are after the break.

FIFA now includes all-new Attacking Intelligence, which allows your computer teammates to think two moves ahead, find open space, work harder to break past the defense and put themselves in the best position to receive a pass to score. Players can also customize their runs to make sure they are in a prime place to support their team or pull defenders out of position to open up a space for their striker to put the ball home.

In the game, every touch now is the most important touch ever as FIFA 13 has improved upon its dribbling engine from last year and now allows you, the player, to have 360 degree control over the ball. This 1st Touch Control gives you more precise touches around the pitch, as well as the ability to change direction faster, explode past the defense and protect the ball from defenders. Essentially, this gets rid of the "perfect touch" that is rarely found in the real-life counterpart of the game. It also removes the ability to predict the ball's path based on scripted events, as now there is much more variation to how the ball reacts and comes down from its current trajectory and speed.

Of course, it's not just the gameplay mechanics that got an overhaul. We'll also see,

Improved Career Mode with major changes developed in response to requests from the most passionate fans of the franchise.

New features to enhance the massive EA SPORTS FIFA online offering, including improvements to the wildly popular Head-To-Head Seasons mode.

Multiple new features and benefits to EA SPORTS Football Club, the live service that is the heartbeat of FIFA.

Complete authenticity with more than 500 officially licensed clubs.

Additional new modes and features will be announced in the months ahead.

We will also see Kinect play a major role in FIFA 13. Control your players as a coach by making substitutions, changing tactics and more by using your voice and never enter a menu screen. In Be A Pro Mode, talk to your teammates and instruct them where you want them to go. The coolest thing is the new Referee Feedback Feature. Don't like a call? Curse out the referee just like in real life and the game will keep track of your voice reactions. The commentators in the game will also let you know if your reaction was right for the play. I don't think that the Kinect will recognize if you dive though. Hey EA, if it's in the game...

In addition to that, EA has improved their EA SPORTS Football Club to include even more features than last year's revolutionary social system. First, your progress from FIFA 12 will carry over to the new game so your season "starts as strong as it finishes." You can now unlock rewards for your accomplishments by earning Football Club Credits. Kits, special celebrations, virtual pro skill upgrades, career mode scouts, FIFA 13 Ultimate Team packs and coins and bonus games in your Head-to-Head Seasons can all be unlocked from the new Football Club store. You can then show off all of your accomplishments to your friends and hopefully beat them to be the first to level 100. Not enough showmanship? Take those experiences you have and share them on Facebook by publishing your feats like your victories, club acquisitions or items right to your wall directly from your Xbox or PS3.

The EA SPORTS Football Club will also include an app, improved over last year, that will let you take your FIFA 13 Ultimate Team to the next level. Search the card auctions, bid on new players and list your existing ones you don't want anymore for trade, all right from your mobile device.

EA also announced that the iPad and iPhone can enjoy FIFA 13 to take with them anywhere they go and will be able to use the same account to keep their friends and achievement all together. Those features will be made available to Android later on in the year.